Desk



July 11, 1939. J DUNN 2,165,244

DESK 1,

Filed March so, 1938 2 sheets-sheet i INVENTOR BY JAMES F. DUNN ATTORNEYJ. DUNN July 11, 1939.

DESK

Filed March 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. a m i 2 M t M a w k N N U 1 DY. mF m m 10 V .T m MM m M m HN J, M Q

Wm MN 3 QN Patented July 11, 1939 UNITED STATS OFF Application March 30,

1 Claim.

1938, Serial No. 198,885

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3'700. G. 757) The invention relates broadly to a desk and more particularlyto a desk for the use of typists.

An object of the invention is to provide a desk that is sufficientlyheavy and so balanced as to be non-vibrating when in use, although ofsmall size.

Another object of the invention is to provide a desk that is compact inconstruction and arrangement of parts, easily portable, and one whichoccupies a minimum of floor space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a desk in which thecompartments for holding sup-plies are within easy reach of a typist,thereby expediting the accomplishment of secretarial duties.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a desk constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the cover closed; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 designates a desk as awhole constructed in accordance with my invention, and which is providedwith conventional supporting legs 6. The 35 desk is further providedwith a hinged top cover 7 adapted to be supported, when in openedposition, on a portion 8 of the desk. The cover, when open, as seen inFig. 1, becomes a tray suitable for the reception of such papers as areordinarily 4o handled by a secretary. As may be seen in said figure, thetray is divided into two compartments by a partition 9 that is suitablypivoted in the opposite sides of the tray, one compartment of which maybe used as an incoming basket, and 45 the other of which may be used asan outgoing basket. Although there is shown in the drawings but onepartition, it will be understood a plurality of such partitions may beutilized, dividing the tray into several compartments. The front side ofthe cover or tray is provided with a channel I0, the purpose of whichwill be explained hereinafter. The portion 8 serves as a convenientworking place when the cover or tray of the desk is in a closedposition.

To a partition I l and end board l2 of the desk (Fig. 2) are attachedconventional guides l3 for drawers it for the reception of stationery,paper and other similar commodities, and just above the drawers there isconveniently placed a board to slide in the space 15 on the supports it.A drawer space is likewise provided at the other side of the deskbetween partition I! and end board iii to accommodate a drawer l9slidable between guides 26. This drawer space, however, accommodates adrawer of considerable less width than the drawers l4 and it extendsfrom the bottom to the top of the body of the desk. This narrow draweris designed to receive carbon paper or other such thin packaged materialthat can be set on its edge. A shelf 2i is hinged to one end of thedesk, and, when in operative position, it is supported by a suitablebracket, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The body of the desk includes a well adapted to contain a typewritermounted on a bottom member 23 slidable between suitable guides 2%supported by members 25. The forward under side of the bottom member isundercut to form a shoulder 26 that abuts against the trim 21' toprevent the said member from being withdrawn beyond a safe position. An.envelop pocket 28 is provided on one wall of the well. The space behindthe partition 29, forming the rear wall of the envelop pocket, and thepartition 8 i serves as a guideway 35) into which a sliding closure 3|rests when the desk is open for use.

This closure 3! is composed of a plurality of individual cylindricalmembers 32 banded together to form a flexible unit that is guided in itsmovement by a runway 33 between the trim 2? and the sliding bottom 23and the guides 24. A suitable handle or finger piece M is attached tothe closure for easy operation thereof, and also to provide a stop forthe closure that it may not be so far seated in the space above referredto that it may not be gripped with the fingers. A suitable guard 35 isplaced over the guideway 3t to hold the closure from riding out of theguideway when it is rolled back to an opened position.

To close the desk, the top cover 1 is brought over the desk Well and isautomatically secured in closed position by a suitable spring catch, onepart 36 of which is shown in Fig. 1, the co-acting member being suitablyplaced within the well. The closure 3! is then brought across the frontof the well to the position wherein it may be fastened by a suitablelocking element shown at 3?. When thus closed the desk cannot be openedby an unauthorized person without damage to the desk itself or lockingelement, because the spring catch is in an inaccessible place behind thelocked closure, which cannot be pulled out of position as its top edgeis seated in the channel ID in the top cover. 7

It will be understood that the above description and accompanyingdrawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of myinvention and that various changes in construction, proportion andarrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claimwithout sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention. The inventiondescribed herein may be manufactured and/or used by or for theGovernment of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What I claim as new is; V

In a desk, a central portion, a pedestal on either side of and extendingto a higher altitude than the central portion to provide a well, thepedestals accommodating compartments, a sliding flexible member adaptedto close the front of the well, a guide-way extending between thepedestals in which the said member'operates, a hinged cover for the welladapted to provide a tray when opened, a channelway in the cover inwhich the flexible member rests when the cover and memher are in closedpositions, and pivotal means in the cover to divide it into compartmentswhen opened; V

' JAMES F. DUNN.

